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“She reacted like a Champions League winner,” remarked England manager Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.

For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was almost identical.

This comment came as Wiegman recalled the young midfielder’s ecstatic reaction to her maiden England goal – six minutes into a triumph over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.

“I think the pitch needs some attention after that!” she added, referring to Kendall’s perfect knee slide.

As the 21-year-old stood up, with a look of disbelief and engulfed by her team-mates, a beaming smile lit up her face.

A Scripted Moment at a Familiar Ground

Kendall was “a mainstay” at Southampton – a club where she had spent a decade, rising through their academy and playing 103 games before joining Villa in July.

Therefore, scoring at St Mary's upon her return and during just her third international match felt dreamlike.

“To do it here, where I was raised, was an immensely special moment. This place forged the player I am,” Kendall said.

“It appeared as though it was fate. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”

A Meteoric Ascent

It may have been Southampton who “developed” Kendall, but a big decision aged 15 proved crucial to her future.

Despite being a capable cricketer (her father played for Hampshire), the looming demands of senior football at Southampton necessitated a decision. She selected football.

“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall said in a recent media conference.

“I loved playing cricket growing up. It was a really difficult decision. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I knew I enjoy football a bit more.”

Growing up admiring Chelsea and Frank Lampard’s goal-getting midfield exploits, Kendall is starting her own path with similar attacking instincts.

Her ability to manage first-team football alongside a psychology degree indicated the drive and dedication required for the top level.

The club fought to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa moved decisively to bring her to the top flight.

Her meteoric rise has seen her become a WSL fixture and an England international in a short space of time.

“She shows consistency and that's not easy when you just come into a new environment and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” admitted Wiegman.

“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”

Her performance was eye-catching; she came close to scoring again and nearly crafted another chance, preceding Russo’s spot-kick.

She came off after an hour to a ovation from the home crowd and the enthusiastic voice of the stadium announcer boasting that she was “Southampton's very own”.

With 29 Southampton goals to her name, she noted, “The faith and regular playing time I received from 16 proved vital.

“Their unwavering belief in my abilities made me feel prepared for the challenge ahead.

“I understood the need to justify my selection at international level, where the tempo is higher, akin to moving up a league.”

Praise for a Complete Midfielder

At the highest level, she has immediately looked the part, described as a gifted midfielder who “has it”.

The England manager wants to safeguard her exposure, citing the roles of both media and club, but is reassured by the player’s humble nature.

Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was sitting in front of the media saying she was keen to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo said it felt like Kendall had “been here for years” as she slotted straight into the squad.

“{This team's just gone on to win back-to